Economics 11



Economics 500 Microeconomic Theory Mike Sproul

TEXT: Nicholson: Microeconomic Theory: Basic Principles and Extensions (Older editions OK)

An online study guide and a partial online text (link PE) are available in the “Web Links” section of our Class website, at

OFFICE: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) 116D, MW 2:45-3:45, TuTh 7:30-8AM, TuTh 5:30-6PM

Cell Phone: 661-733-4530. Call any time. I don’t usually answer at 3 AM, but you can leave a voicemail without waking me up. If I don’t call back within 2 hours, or if

you call late at night and I haven’t called back by 7:30AM, try again

Email: sproulmike@

I don’t give out grades by phone or email.

GRADING: Four quizzes: 65% (approximate weighting)

Final: 35%

CLASS PROCEDURES

1. Quizzes are given in class on Thursdays of weeks 4, 7, 10, and 13. Quizzes usually cover only the material since the previous quiz. Quizzes focus on lectures, but if a topic is covered in lecture, you have to know what the book says about it. Assuming lecture notes are available, mistakes in the notes will not excuse you from making mistakes on the test.

2. The Online Study Guide provides self-test problems with answers. These are ungraded problems, intended to give you practice with the material without the pressure of grading.

3. Lecture Notes: One of the assignments (worth 2 points in total) is to turn in your lecture notes for two classes. You are assigned to take notes during the following weeks based on your last name:

Last name A-C D-J K-L M-O P-R S-Si Sj-Sz T-Z

Weeks 1 or 2 3 or 4 5 or 6 7 or 8 9 or 10 11 or 12 13 or 14 14 or 15

If your first name starts with A-L, do the first week listed. If it starts with M-Z, do the second. Notes must be neatly handwritten, not typed. Be sure to include a proper heading, including your name, date, and class time. Upload the file to the discussion board of our class website. The link you post must connect directly to a single file containing your complete set of notes with just one click. No ads, no multiple files, etc. If there is no lecture on your assigned day then do the class before or after. Notes should be posted within 36 hours of your second day of note-taking. If you have trouble with scanners and computers, the easiest solution is to go to a copy store and have them scan your papers to a pdf file, which you can then upload.

4. Makeups are given only under unusual circumstances. If you have to miss a quiz, I will usually substitute an estimated score based on your final exam. You must contact me promptly, and you can only do it once.

5. Grade Appeals are made to the grader by email, and must be made within 10 days of the exam.

6. COVID issues: The default format of this class is that lectures, discussions, office hours, and exams will be online. If big enough rooms become available, then lectures, discussions, office hours, and exams will be given in person. Where practical, I will make the online/in-person choice according to the wishes of the majority of students.

WEEK TOPICS NICHOLSON ONLINE STUDY

GUIDE

1 Economic Models, Supply and Demand 1 1

Link PE: chap 1, 5

2 Utility and Preference 3 2

3 Utility Maximization and Choice 4 3

Link PE: Chap 6

4 Income and Substitution Effects 5 3

Link PE: chap 7

5 Production Functions, Cost Functions 7, 8 7

6 Profit Maximization by Competitive Firms 9, 10 8

7 Applied Competitive Analysis 11 1

8 General Equilibrium and Welfare 12 6

9 Monopoly 13 9

10 Monopoly practices, Cartels, 13 9

and Strategic Behavior Link PE: chap. 11-14

11 Input Demand Link PE: chap 15 10

12 Labor Markets 16 11

13 Externalities and Public Goods 20 13

14 Capital Markets 17 12

15 Financial Markets Link PE: 19.f, 20.d, f, g.1, g.2

Statement on Academic Conduct and Support Systems

 

Academic Conduct

Plagiarism – presenting someone else’s ideas as your own, either verbatim or recast in your own words – is a serious academic offense with serious consequences.  Please familiarize yourself with the discussion of plagiarism in SCampus in Section 11, Behavior Violating University Standards.  Other forms of academic dishonesty are equally unacceptable.  See additional information in SCampus and university policies on scientific misconduct, .

Discrimination, sexual assault, and harassment are not tolerated by the university.  You are encouraged to report any incidents to the Office of Equity and Diversity or to the Department of Public Safety .  This is important for the safety whole USC community.  Another member of the university community – such as a friend, classmate, advisor, or faculty member – can help initiate the report, or can initiate the report on behalf of another person.  The Center for Women and Men provides 24/7 confidential support, and the sexual assault resource center webpage sarc@usc.edu describes reporting options and other resources.

Support Systems

A number of USC’s schools provide support for students who need help with scholarly writing.  Check with your advisor or program staff to find out more.  Students whose primary language is not English should check with the American Language Institute , which sponsors courses and workshops specifically for international graduate students.  The Office of Disability Services and Programs certification for students with disabilities and helps arrange the relevant accommodations.  If an officially  declared emergency makes travel to campus infeasible, USC Emergency Information provide safety and other updates, including ways in which instruction will be continued by means of blackboard, teleconferencing, and other technology.

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download